Method and apparatus for recognizing characters

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for recognizing characters using an image are provided. A camera is activated according to a character recognition request and a preview mode is set for displaying an image photographed through the camera in real time. An auto focus of the camera is controlled and an image having a predetermined level of clarity is obtained for character recognition from the images obtained in the preview mode. The image for character recognition is character-recognition-processed so as to extract recognition result data. A final recognition character row is drawn that excludes non-character data from the recognition result data. A first word is combined including at least one character of the final recognition character row and a predetermined maximum number of characters. A dictionary database that stores dictionary information on various languages using the first word is searched, so as to provide the user with the corresponding word.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for recognizing characters in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 activating a camera of the electronic device based on receiving a user input; 
 obtaining, for character recognition, a preview image through the camera of the electronic device, the preview image comprising a plurality of images being sequentially displayed on a display of the electronic device; 
 displaying, on the display of the electronic device, the preview image obtained through the camera of the electronic device together with a graphical object guiding a user of the electronic device to adjust the camera to align characters to the graphical object for increasing character recognition rate; and 
 while the preview image is displayed on the display of the electronic device:
 obtaining, through the camera of the electronic device, at least one image having clarity value greater than or equal to a reference value, the at least one image including characters for the character recognition, 
 obtaining character recognition result by processing the obtained at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value to recognize at least portion of the characters included within the obtained at least one image, 
 searching a dictionary database based on the obtained character recognition result, and 
 displaying a dictionary search result corresponding to the character recognition result on the display of the electronic device, 
 
 wherein a first language of the character recognition result is different from a second language of the dictionary search result. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining of the at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value is based on determining that no movement exists by comparing two or more images obtained through the camera. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining of whether the movement exists comprises:
 obtaining a character detection area in the obtained image; 
 storing an edge filtering-processed image when the characters are identified through edge filtering within the character detection area; 
 comparing a processed most current frame of the obtained image with a processed previous frame of the obtained image; 
 calculating a value according to a difference between the processed images; 
 determining that the movement does not exist when the calculated value is less than a movement determination boundary value; and 
 determining that the movement exists when the calculated value is greater than or equal to the movement determination boundary value. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 combining one or more characters identified through the processing of the obtained image and having a predetermined maximum number of characters as a first word; 
 searching the dictionary database that stores dictionary information on various languages using the first word; and 
 outputting a word corresponding to the first word in at least one of the various languages according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the first word. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 excluding characters from the first word one by one; 
 identifying new words from characters remaining in the first word after excluding characters from the first word; 
 searching the dictionary database using the respective new words; and 
 outputting words corresponding to the respective new words according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the respective new words. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dictionary research result is displayed within the graphical object. 
     
     
       7. An electronic device for character recognition, the electronic device comprising:
 a camera; 
 a display; 
 a memory for storing instructions; and 
 a controller configured to execute the stored instructions control to at least:
 activate the camera of the electronic device based on a user input, 
 obtain, for character recognition, a preview image through the camera of the electronic device, the preview image comprising a plurality of images being sequentially displayed on the display of the electronic device, 
 display, on the display of the electronic device, the preview image obtained through the camera of the electronic device together with a graphical object guiding a user of the electronic device to adjust the camera to align characters to the graphical object for increasing character recognition rate, and 
 while the preview image is displayed on the display of the electronic device:
 obtain, through the camera of the electronic device, at least one image having clarity value greater than or equal to a reference value, the at least one image including characters for the character recognition, 
 obtain character recognition result by processing the obtained at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value to recognize at least portion of the characters included within the obtained at least one image, 
 search a dictionary database store in the electronic device based on the obtained character recognition result, and 
 display, on the display of the electronic device, a dictionary search result corresponding to the character recognition result, 
 
 
 wherein a first language of the characters recognized is different from a second language of the dictionary search result. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the obtaining of the at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value is based on determining that no movement exists by comparing two or more images obtained through the camera. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to execute the instructions further to:
 obtain a character detection area in the obtained image, 
 perform edge filtering so as to extract a number of edges, and 
 identify the characters when the extracted number of edges is greater than or equal to a boundary value. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to execute the instructions further to:
 combine one or more characters identified through the processing of the obtained image and having a predetermined maximum number of characters as a first word, 
 search the dictionary database that stores dictionary information on various languages using the first word, and 
 output a word corresponding to the first word in at least one of the various languages according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the first word. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to execute the instructions further to:
 exclude characters from the first word one by one, 
 identify new words from characters remaining in the first word after excluding characters from the first word, 
 search the dictionary database using the respective new words, and 
 output words corresponding to the respective new words according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the respective new words. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the dictionary research result is displayed within the graphical object. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by a controller of an electronic device to cause the controller to:
 activate a camera of the electronic device based on a user input, 
 obtain, for character recognition, a preview image through the camera of the electronic device, the preview image comprising a plurality of images being sequentially displayed on a display of the electronic device, 
 display, on the display of the electronic device, the preview image obtained through the camera of the electronic device together with a graphical object guiding a user of the electronic device to adjust the camera to align characters to the graphical object for increasing character recognition rate, and 
 while the preview image is displayed on the display of the electronic device:
 obtain, through the camera of the electronic device, at least one image having clarity value greater than or equal to a reference value, the at least one image including characters for the character recognition, 
 obtain character recognition result by processing the obtained at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value to recognize at least portion of the characters included within the obtained at least one image, 
 search a dictionary database store in the electronic device based on the obtained character recognition result, and 
 display, on the display of the electronic device, a dictionary search result corresponding to the character recognition result, 
 
 wherein a first language of the characters recognized is different from a second language of the dictionary search result. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the obtaining of the at least one image having the clarity value greater than or equal to the reference value is based on determining that no movement exists by comparing two or more images obtained through the camera. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions cause the controller further to:
 combine one or more characters identified through the processing of the obtained image and having a predetermined maximum number of characters as a first word, 
 search the dictionary database that stores dictionary information on various languages using the first word, and 
 output a word corresponding to the first word in at least one of the various languages according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the first word. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the controller further to:
 exclude characters from the first word one by one, 
 identify new words from characters remaining in the first word after excluding characters from the first word, 
 search the dictionary database using the respective new words, and 
 output words corresponding to the respective new words according to the dictionary search result of the dictionary database using the respective new words. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the dictionary research result is displayed within the graphical object. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the determining of whether the movement exists comprises:
 obtaining a character detection area in the obtained image, 
 storing an edge filtering-processed image when the characters are identified through edge filtering within the character detection area, 
 comparing a processed most current frame of the obtained image with a processed previous frame of the obtained image, 
 calculating a value according to a difference between the processed images, 
 determining that the movement does not exist when the calculated value is less than a movement determination boundary value, and 
 determining that the movement exists when the calculated value is greater than or equal to the movement determination boundary value.